News from Ireland - news from around the 32 counties

In June 2012, ESB e-cars launched a campaign to recruit members of the general public and organizations to apply to join a team of e-car ambassadors and drive an electric car for up to a year. In total 11 men and eight women with a wide range of interests and lifestyles have been selected to share their experiences on TV, radio and online as well as through surveys and questionnaires.
[Source: Leitrim Observer]

LIMERICK

The mother of a young boy who was found dead at his home in Charleville earlier last week has appeared in court charged with his murder.

Diane Ward (43) of Harrisson Place, Charleville, is accused of killing eight-year-old Anthony Ward at her home on Monday.

During a special sitting of Limerick District Court, Det. Sgt. Michael Corbett said he arrested the defendant at Cork University Hospital at 5:25 p.m. last Tuesday.
[Source: Limerick Leader]
LONGFORD

Tributes were being made last Wednesday to the renowned businessman John Frank O’Reilly, who passed away September 4.

The popular 87-year-old was arguably one of the midlands’ best known figures, thanks largely to his involvement in the success of the family’s long-standing insurance business which he founded along Longford Town’s Dublin Street.

A regular attendee at county social gatherings overseas, typified by the likes of the New York and London Dinner Dance Association functions, John Frank was deeply immersed in locally-based charity organizations.

A member of St. Vincent De Paul, the keen GAA follower made Lourdes an almost annual choice of destination over the years.
[Source: Longford Leader]
LOUTH

Dundalk-born rider Eilish Byrne finished fifth in the individual Paralympic dressage in the London Paralympic Games.

Eilish, who is based in Armagh, had a further chance to medal when she partook in the freestyle competition, which started last Monday and concluded Tuesday, with every rider starting on a zero score.

Despite being born with spina bifida, she competed in show jumping when she was 12-years-old, but later decided to focus on dressage.
[Source: Dundalk Democrat]
MAYO

Disability campaigners have promised they will not lie down in the face of cutbacks to their services and have warned government TDs they will experience an “autumn of discontent” if the proposed $164 million health budget cuts are introduced.

Cuts to be made to the health budget for the remainder of the year will see some 600,000 home-help hours being cut, while $13 million will be cut through a reduction in personal-assistant hours for people with disabilities.
[Source: The Mayo News]
MEATH

Local hotels received a very welcome boost to the tune of some 700 bed nights two weeks ago as Trim and Navan played host to two visiting American football teams and their followers for the GIFT clash at Pairc Tailteann.

Knightsbrook Hotel in Trim hosted the Notre Dame Prep side, while Navan's Newgrange Hotel was host to Canadian side, Villanova. Their visit came at a particularly welcome time for local hotels as the summer season was winding down, helping to lengthen the season.

It wasn't just the hotels that benefitted, however, with many local pubs, restaurants and shops also reporting an increase in business, thanks to the American and Canadian visitors who travelled to Ireland to support their respective sides.
[Source: Meath Chronicle]

MONAGHAN

Tourism Minister Leo Varadkar accepted an invitation to get "down and dirty" in Co. Monaghan last Saturday when participants from all over the world took part in this year’s annual Irish Bog Snorkeling Championships.

The event was being staged for the fourth successive year at a bog in Doohamlet, near Castleblayney.

"He has also indicated that he will be likely to take part in the event — the first government minister ever to do so," Mr. Conlan said.
[Source: Irish Examiner]

OFFALY

Offaly Fianna Fáil TD Barry Cowen has expressed serious concern for the future of jobs at Bord na Mona following a poor harvest and the unseasonably wet weather over the past few months.

Deputy Cowen has written to the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Pat Rabbitte on two occasions requesting an urgent meeting with the Minister and Chief Executive of Bord na Mona Gabriel Darcy. The Minister failed to respond to the first request and merely acknowledged the latest one, without making any commitment to prioritize this issue.
[Source: Offaly Express]

ROSCOMMON

A Roscommon family is appealing to the HSE to give them the home support they need to allow them to care for their four-year-old son.